Tooth-separator.



C. A. ERICSSON.

TOOTH SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.1e. 1915.

1,197,725. PatentedSept. 12,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. A. ERICSSON.

TOOTH SEPARATOR.

APPLICATlON FILED AUG-16, m5.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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CARL A. ERICSSON, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TOOTH-SEPARATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed August 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,745.

To (ZZZ whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, CARL A. ERICSSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Separators.

My invention relates to improvements in tooth separators and one of the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby an operating dentist may separate the teeth under a spring tension, thus avoiding the painful efiect of a solid pull ordinarily employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide adjustments in the device so it can be readily adjusted to fit any teeth, upper or lower.

1 Another object of my invention is to provide means for holding the mouth open and drawing the lips in a retracted position, exposing completely the teeth and gums so the operator may readily work on the tooth or teeth requiring attention.

The drawing discloses in Figure 1 a view of my improved tooth separator as it appears when inserted in the mouth of a patient. Fig. 2 is the frame and the semi cylindrical part that rests upon the tongue. Fig. 3 is a section of the holder. Fig. 4 is a modification of the retractor. Fig. 5 shows the complete device in the mouth.

The main frame 1, Fig. 2, is formed into a semi-cylindrical shaped dam, the two extremities 2 and 3 being adapted for insertion back into the mouth and to serve as a rest for the jaws, the teeth being closed clirectly on the extremities 2 and 3. The two outer edges of the frame 1 have brazed thereto, or attached in any other suitable manner, the frame at of the lip'retractor.

The main frame 1 is preferably formed in such shape that it not only serves as a rest for the jaws, but the curved portions of the extremities 2 and 3 fit closely in the palate above, and pushing back the tongue fits below where the tongue normally would rest so as to keep the tongue entirely away from the work and also to serve substantially as a dam, preventing the flow of saliva from reaching the operators work at the tooth. If an absolute prevention of the saliva flow is desired, cotton may be placed along the edges 2 and 3 and this will form a true dam, serving the same purpose as that of the rubber dam ordinarily employed in like eases.

The lip retractor is formed, as shown in Fig. 1, in such manner that the lip plates 5 will push the lips back and entirely expose the lips and gum when the tooth separator is placed in the mouth of a patient.

Rigidly attached to the lip retractor frame are two small studs 6, and slidably mounted thereon the two adjustment standards 7 may be clamped in any desired position by thethumb nuts 8. The standards are formed at the upper extremity to receive on a trunnion mounting the sleeves 9, through which the adjustment stems 10 are passed, rotation in the shoulder being prevented by the feather key 11, Fig. 3, Fig. 3 being a section taken on the line A A.

The inner extremities of the adjustment stems 10 have rigidly attached thereto the cleat 12, provided for the easy and quick attachment of threads or other flexible connection, as will be more thoroughly explained hereafter.

On the outer extremity of the sleeve 9, the springs 13, washers 14, and thumb nuts 15 serve as a means of drawing the end of the adjustment stem outwardly under tension of the springs 10.

Operation: The main frame 1 is inserted in the mouth of the patient, the jaws closing down on the extremities 2 and 3 thereof, the lip plate 5 pushing the lips to a retracted position, exposing the teeth and gums, as shown in Fig. 1. A thread, or other flexible means 16 is passed around the tooth 17 and both ends of the thread are brought back and wrapped around the cleat 12, the tooth 18 being treated in a similar manner. With the threads thus attached, the thumb nuts 15 are screwed up, bringing tension on the spring 13 through the stems 10 and threads 16 to the teeth 17 and 18, thus drawing them gently apart under the tension of the springs. With the teeth thus separated, the operator can proceed with the dental work in the ordinary manner without injuring the enamel of the teeth and without any unnecessary pain on the part of the patient.

Fig. 4: discloses another type of adjusting stem 19, which may be inserted in the sleeve 9 and through the spring 13, in place of the stem 10, and by means of a thread or wire 20 slipped between the teeth, one tooth may be drawn away the desired amount without the necessity of making the loop around the tooth as hereto described.

I claim:

1. In tooth separators the combination of a frame comprising a jaw rest formed into a substantially cylindrical shape in one direction, and curved for receiving the jaws in the other direction, an extension extending at right angles to the diameter of said cylindrical section and formed at either end thereof into a plate to press the lips of the patient away from the teeth when the separator is placed in the patients mouth, a standard mounted on said frame and adjustable therewith, an adjusting stem coacting with said stem and means on said stem for adjusting its position with said standard.

2. In tooth separators the combination of a mounting frame, of two curved opposite parts adapted to rest inside the lips, an adjusting stem associated with said frame and coacting therewith and having means thereon for attaching a ligature thereto, and means for adjusting the position of said stem with reference to said frame, whereby a strain may be set up in a ligature attached Copies of this patent may be obtained for to said frame and a tooth in the mouth of the patient in which the separator is placed.

3. In tooth separators the combination of a frame comprising two oppositely disposed bow shaped plates for retracting the lips, a jaw rest extending therefrom, an adjusting stem associated with said frame and coacting therewith and having means thereon for attaching a ligature thereto, and means for adjusting said stem with reference to said frame, whereby a strain may be set up in a ligature attached to said stem and a tooth in the mouth of the patient in which the separator is placed.

4. In tooth separators the combination of a mounting frame, a standard mounted upon said frame and adjustable therewith, an adjusting stem coacting with said frame and having means thereon for attaching a ligature thereto, and means on said stem for adjusting its position with reference to said standard, whereby a strain may be set up in a ligature attached to said stem and a tooth in the mouth of the patient in which the separator is placed.

CARL A. ERIGSSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

